24 September 2013 – Philippine Consul General in New York Mario De Leon, Jr. met with Mayor Gerald Jennings of Albany, capital of the State of New York, on September 12. The two officials talked about the importance and welfare of the Filipino-American community in Albany. Mayor Jennings, the 74th mayor of Albany, was first elected in 1993 and is now serving his fifth term.
Consul General De Leon impressed upon Mayor Jennings the contributions of Filipino-Americans in Albany, especially those working in the healthcare sector. He highlighted the fact that many Filipino nurses are working in various hospitals in Albany, such as the Albany Medical Center Hospital (AMCH), Samaritan Albany General Hospital, and Albany Memorial Hospital.
Three representatives of AMCH - Ms. Wendy Press and Ms. Lynne Longtin, who both oversee AMCH’s Philippine Recruitment Program, and Filipina nurse Ms. Analyn Nocus – joined the meeting. According to them, AMCH has been hiring Filipino nurses since 2002 and that there are more than 200 Filipinos now working in AMCH as registered nurses and administrative and technical staff.
Mayor Jennings said he had personally experienced the quality services of Filipino nurses because a Filipina nurse cared for him when he was hospitalized last year. Ms. Press underscored AMCH’s positive experiences with Filipino nurses because of their competence and excellent work ethics.
Consul General De Leon and Mayor Jennings also talked about the conditions of the Filipino- Americans in Albany. The Mayor inquired with Ms. Catherine Codamon, President, Bayanihan Association of the Capital District, and Ms. Luz French, Vice President, Filipino-American Club of Schenectady, who joined the Consul General, if they had any issues in their community. He encouraged them to report to him any problems in their community, especially those relating to their welfare, human rights, housing, and the peace and order in their places of residence.
Mayor Jennings brought along Chief of Police Steven Krokoff and Mr. Michael Barber, Executive Director, Commission on Human Rights of Albany, to the meeting so they could meet the representatives of the Filipino-American community.
“I am very thankful to Mayor Jennings for being welcoming and receptive to the Filipino-American community. I am glad that he assured our community that they can approach his office if they encounter any major issues affecting their welfare,” Consul General De Leon said after the meeting.
Later in the day, Consul General De Leon and Consul Zaldy Patron held a town hall meeting at AMCH’s Center for Learning and Development. They explained to the 45 Filipino-Americans in attendance the various programs and projects as well as the consular services of the Philippine Consulate General in New York. END